Method of making a garment waistband



Dec. 10, 1968 1.. FLAME METHOD OF MAKING A GARMENT WAISTBAND Filed NOV. 15, 1967 FIG. 2

FIG.1

FIG. 3

FIG.'5

FIG. 4

INVENTOR low-2Z1 flam BY A /w ATTORNEY.

United States Patent 3,414,907 METHOD OF MAKING A GARMENT WAISTBAND Lowell Flame, Riverdale, N.Y., assignor to Maidenform, Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Nov. 15, 1967, Ser. No. 683,408 1 Claim. (Cl. 2-221) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The invention consists of a garment body fabric carrying at the upper area thereof a separate and applied waistband. In order to provide an interior relatively smooth surface running from the top of the garment fabric to the top of the inner fold of the waistband, the latter is so positioned that its inner edge abuts the edge of the garment and connection is made by zig-Zag stitches across the joining line. Interiorly of the waistband is an elastic fabric strip. In the method of assembly prior to the final zig-zag stitches, the lower edge of the waistband fabric first is connected to the garment fabric by a line of stitching and the elastic strip is placed flat thereon, with the center approximately at the subsequent line of fold of the waistband fabric. Then the waistband is centrally folded. In this action the elastic strip also is folded centrally thereof, so as to lie out of the way of the blind zig-zag connecting stitches then applied. Finally by pulling the connected waist band into somewhat arcuate formation, the elasticity of the strip will automatically bring it back into original fiat form and the assembly will be completed. By blind stitches, all that is meant is that the said stitches preferably do not extend to the outer face of the waistband.

The invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is an isometric view showing the upper area of the garment fabric and the waistband with the abutting edges of the two members connected by zig-zag stitches, the stitching being enlarged for clarity of illustration.

- FIGURE 2 is an enlarged vertical section, taken on the line 22, FIG. 1.

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of the waistband fabric piece, partly broken away, showing by dotted lines the line of fold, and at one margin, reinforcing stitching.

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 1, showing the waist band fabric connected by stitching to the garment fabric, dotted lines showing the position of the elastic band when laid flat on the inner face of the waistband, and showing by full lines said elastic strip when the waistband is folded down to abut the upper edge of the garment fabric.

FIGURE 5 is a vertical section through the folded waistband and the folded elastic strip, preliminary to the final zig-zag stitch connection of the waistband with the garment fabric.

Referring to FIGURES 1 and 2 of the drawings, it will be seen that the upper area of the garment fabric is indicated at 1, the folded waistband at 2 having an outer and upwardly extending fold to conceal both stitching Sand 5; and the elastic strip at 3 best illustrated in FIGURE 2.

Patented Dec. 10, 1968 That figure shows the completed structure, with the inner fold of the waistband abutting the top edge of the garment fabric 1, and connected by stitching at 4 which preferably is a zig-Zag stitch crossing the line of abutment. These two figures show that the connecting line of stitching 4 does not extend outwardly to be exposed on the outer face of the waistband.

FIGURES 3, 4 and 5 show the steps taken preliminary to the final stitching 4. In FIG. 3 the stitching shown at 5, while not essential, is useful not only in reinforcing a cut selvage of the elastic strip, but also for reinforcing the selvage or edge of the waistband generally. In FIGURE 4 the dotted line 6 is a line of fold for the waistband piece. In practice, and now referring to FIG. 4, the elastic strip is laid fiat on the waistband inner face after the garment fabric 1 and the waistband have been connected by the line of stitching 5. In FIG. 4 the fiat upper area of the elastic strip is indicated by the dotted lines 8. and when the waist band is folded on the line 6 the elastic strip will assume the position thereof shown in full lines in FIG. 4. In other words the elastic strip will be folded longitudinally and will be enclosed in the manner shown in FIG. 5, its marginal edges being adequately spaced from the upper edge of the garment fabric, and the edge of the waistband to be connected thereto.

The connecting zig-zag stitching 4 finally connecting the free edge of the inner fold of the waistband 2 with the garment fabric 1 is concealed from the outer face of the finished garment. This is accomplished by a sewing machine well known in the art, and having needle control elements positioned within the folded waistband at the line of connection between the latter and the garment fabric, and as the stitching proceeds. Subsequent to inserting the final stitching 4, the waistband is manipulated into a somewhat arcuate configuration whereupon the elastic strip 3, because of its inherent resiliency, will unfold and become flat as illustrated in the completed band illustrated in FIGURE 2.

It will be understood that the theretofore connected but fiat form of the garment fabric and waistband, will be connected at opposite margins thereof, a connecting point for the waistband ends being schematically indicated at 9 and that the garment fabric may, as customary, be formed with pleats as indicated at 10. It will further be understood that various modifications may be made in the form and arrangement of the elements constituting the embodiment shown and described, without departure from the spirit of the invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is as follows:

1. The method of forming and applying a waistband to a garment, which consists of preparing an elongated waistband piece and a resilient strip having a width of not more than one half the width of said waistband piece, seaming one margin of the waistband piece to and exteriorally of the upper marginal area of the garment fabric. producing an outer and upwardly extending fold of the waistband piece, which fold outwardly conceals the said stitching, substantially longitudinally centering said resilient strip on said waistband piece, thence producing an inwardly and downwardly extending fold of said resilient strip and said waistband piece, with the free edge of said waistband piece being brought into close relation with the upper edge of the garment fabric, connecting the two closely related margins of said waistband piece and said garment fabric by stitching which crosses the mutually facing line of the waistband piece fold and the upper edge of the garment, controlling said last n'amed stitching against penetration to the outer face of the garment and then manipulating said waistband piece to unfold said resilient strip whereby said resilient strip extends vertically in a single plane within said waistband piece.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS PATRICK D. LAWSON, Primary Examiner.

H. H. HUNTER, Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 

